THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 SPORTS

Striker Suarez credited Everton’s Baines plots Boateng extends Bayern with 15th league goal Christmas comeback Munich’s deal until 2018 LONDON: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was credited with his 15th Premier League LONDON: Everton’s England left-back Leighton Baines revealed yester- MUNICH: Germany centre-back Jerome Boateng has signed a three-year exten- goal of the season yesterday following a review of his side’s 4-1 win over West Ham sion to his Bayern Munich contract to stay with the European champions until day that he hopes to return to action in time for his club’s busy festive United. The Uruguay international played a key role in Liverpool’s fourth goal in last 2018, the club announced yesterday. “Jerome has developed really well here and weekend’s game at Anfield with a long-range strike that took a deflection off West fixture schedule. The 29-year-old, who is bidding to oust Ashley Cole as is one of the most important players for Bayern Munich,” said chairman Karl- Ham defender Joey O’Brien and was recorded as an own goal. However, the England’s first-choice left-back at next year’s World Cup, has not played Heinz Rummenigge. “For this reason it was a logical step to extend his contract Premier League’s dubious goals panel has now ruled that the goal since breaking a toe in Everton’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool on November which we did today.” Boateng had a below-par performance in Bayern’s 3-2 should be credited to Suarez, who also scored earlier in the match. It 23. Manager Roberto Martinez estimated that he would be out of action defeat at home to Manchester City on Tuesday, their first means that Suarez’s lead at the top of the scoring chart has until early January, but Baines is hoping to recover before the end of the home defeat since March, but they still finished win- increased to three goals, with nearest rival Sergio Aguero of year. “The manager said early on it’s quite a broad timeframe that you ners of their Champions League group to reach the Manchester City having found the net 12 last 16. Having joined in July 2011, Boateng times this term. Suarez’s achievement is can be looking at,” he said. “We thought about different things, injec- tions and stuff, but we didn’t know whether that would set me back fur- helped Bayern win last season’s Champions rendered all the more remarkable by the League title as the Bavarian giants became the ther so we are just trying to let it heal naturally at the moment. fact that he missed the first first German side to win the treble of European, five games of the cam- “Obviously the schedule thickens up around Christmas and New Year so league and cup titles. “I am happy, Bayern is one paign as he completed you like to think you would be back and available to help the team at of the biggest clubs in the world and it’s a lot of a suspension for biting that point, but it’s just one of those things. You have to wait and see.” fun and an honor to play for them,” said Chelsea’s Branislav Having won 1-0 at Manchester United and drawn 1-1 at Arsenal in their Boateng, who has made 36 appearances Ivanovic during a game last two outings, Everton currently sit in fifth place in the Premier for Germany. “I want to win more things last season. —AFP League table ahead of Saturday’s home game with Fulham. —AFP with this team in the coming years.” —AFP Australia on the brink against dispirited England N Zealand’s Taylor ton

SYDNEY: Already 2-0 up in the series and there and sulk, moan, whinge and make with Mitchell Johnson running riot, excuses - but you will just get beaten. torments West Indies Australia could hardly be charged with You have to get rid of all that, and fight.” more confidence as they look to rout a Australia, a shambolic team at the start dispirited England in the third Ashes test of the year who have discovered unity in WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s Ross Taylor tor- and recapture the coveted urn. In a victory at home, have an unchanged mented the West Indies’ bowlers yesterday, mak- remarkable turnaround, Australia have squad for the third test in a row as they ing the most of an early let-off to score a century on the first day of the second Test as the home transformed themselves in a few short look to give Michael Clarke side reached 307 for six. The former skipper, who months from plucky 3-0 losers in England something to cheer about in his 100th scored an unbeaten double century in the series into an aggressive outfit which has domi- test. England have never before come opener, was dismissed shortly before close of nated every aspect of play in crushing from 2-0 down to win an Ashes series play at Wellington’s Basin Reserve for 129 when victories in Brisbane and Adelaide. and will definitely make changes as they Shane Shillingford pulled off a diving catch. Starting on Friday, they have a look to stem their own demise and In-form Taylor arrived at the crease with the chance to drive home their advantage Australia’s rise. home side in deep trouble at 24-2 on a green and win the tiny terracotta symbol of and was dropped before he got off the Anglo-Australian sporting rivalry for the LOST TOSSES mark. In conditions that favoured the bowlers, first time since Shane Warne and Glenn One of the two spinners, Graeme the 29-year-old forged half-century partnerships McGrath signed off with a 5-0 sweep in Swann and Mony Panesar, will probably with Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum and 2007. Johnson’s personal transformation give way to all-rounder Tim Corey Anderson to swing the match New has been no less spectacular and the Bresnan but England need huge Zealand’s way, taking the sting out of the second oft-ridiculed paceman now gets his improvements in all areas, even down to new ball with BJ Watling. chance to terrorize at his adopted home captain Alastair Cook’s effectiveness in Taylor has amassed a total of 362 runs in just ground, where even in the dark days of the toss of the coin. England won the toss three innings and been dismissed just once. He the 2010-11 series he bowled his coun- in all three of their victories on home soil also passed 4,000 Test runs during his innings try to victory. earlier this year but lost it in the two and now has an average of 46.52, topping the “It should be fast and bouncy and that drawn matches. Clarke has won both list of New Zealand batsmen who have played a minimum of 20 innings. After his early life when excites me a lot, excites all our fast tosses in the Australia-hosted series with dropped in the slips by Kirk Edwards, Taylor bowlers,” said Johnson, who has taken 36 his team going on to win by 381 runs in offered another opportunity on 122 when Tino in five tests at an average of 19.66 Brisbane and 218 runs in Adelaide. Best spilled a catch at fine leg. at the WACA. “We’re familiar with these As every sportsperson since South That came just after Taylor had belted 13 runs conditions and we know where to bowl ... African golfer Gary Player will attest, off one over by the West Indies quick. But he was if you can bowl a ball accurately at some- though, luck is best improved through seldom under pressure as he faced 227 balls and one’s (helmet) grill, I don’t care who you hard work. One of the more disappoint- hit 15 boundaries before slashing at Shannon are, you are going to feel intimidated, ing aspects of England’s misery so far has Gabriel and being well caught by WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s Ross Taylor dives in for his 99th run against West Indies especially on a wicket like Perth.” England their poor fielding with three dropped Shillingford.New Zealand’s cause was also during the first day of the second International match at Basin Reserve in could hardly have chosen a worse arena catches costing them 286 runs in helped by the inability of West Indies strike to find themselves with their backs to the Adelaide. And even if Cook did manage bowlers Best and Gabriel to maintain the good Wellington yesterday. —AP wall than the WACA, where they have to call correctly on Friday morning and line and length that saw them claim openers won only one test in 12, and that back in put his side into bat, England have not Peter Fulton and Hamish Rutherford in quick 1978. managed the sort of 400-plus total they succession. SCOREBOARD Blinding sunlight and sweltering heat would need to accumulate in any of their Fulton, whose leg before wicket first ball dis- look assured for the five-day match and, matches against Australia this year. missal was overturned on appeal, did not make WELLINGTON: Scoreboard at stumps on the opening day of the second Test between New Zealand if the WACA deck is no longer as quick as The disappointing batting, not least a the most of his reprieve as he poked at a Darren and West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday: it once was, it can still be an intimidating rash of ill-judged hook shots, has called Sammy outside off-stump a few overs New Zealand 1st innings Extras (b16, lb6, nb2) 24 place to face genuine pace bowling of into question the hunger and desire of later and was caught behind for six. Rutherford, P. Fulton c Ramdin b Sammy 6 Total: (6 wickets; 90 overs) 307 the sort Johnson has been producing. the England top order. “Sometimes when dropped by Sammy on eight, made only three H. Rutherford c Ramdin b Best 11 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Fulton), 2-24 (Rutherford), 3- more runs before chasing a shorter Best delivery, Even when the afternoon breeze blows you haven’t been playing well that’s one K. Williamson c Sammy b Best 45 112 (Williamson), 4-189 (McCullum), 5-257 which he edged to wicketkeeper Denesh R. Taylor c Shillingford b Gabriel 129 (Anderson), 6-296 (Taylor) up from Fremantle, what relief it brings thing you start looking at, whether we do Ramdin. Kane Williamson, returning to the New will be tempered in English minds by the have that,” Cook, who will also be playing B. McCullum c Edwards b Deonarine 37 To bat: I. Sodhi, N. Wagner, T. Boult Zealand line-up after missing the Dunedin Test C. Anderson c Edwards b Shillingford 38 Bowling: Best 14-1-66-2, Gabriel 18-4-56-1, knowledge that it has in the past enabled his 100th test, admitted after the with a thumb injury, scored freely until he B. Watling 8 Sammy 19-3-65-1, Shillingford Johnson to swing the ball to devastating Adelaide match. “I can only say from reached 45, when he flashed at a wide Best T. Southee not out 9 23-4-59-1, Deonarine 16-2-39-1. effect. speaking to the guys and watching them, delivery to be caught by Sammy in the slips. “One thing I do know about this team how much this is hurting, that we do. McCullum and Anderson, like Williamson, also is that when we get to this place we Only the guys will know that inside them- made solid starts before being undone. to his teatime score of 37 while Anderson fell to West Indies bowlers, with two for 66 off 14 overs come out fighting. You have no option,” selves. I honestly believe that we’ve got McCullum spooned an innocuous Narsingh Shillingford for 38 after earlier hitting the spinner while part-time spinner Deonarine proved the wicketkeeper Matt Prior said. “You can sit that.” —Reuters Deonarine delivery to Edwards without adding for two sixes. Best was the most successful of the most economical with 1-39 off 16 overs. —AFP Unrest threatens T20 Reborn Johnson evokes Lillee, Thomson era SYDNEY: The astonishing revival of he has used since returning last year on his wrist position, while Troy Cooley, moment. He has frequently broken the WCup, hosts admit Mitchell Johnson has put Australia one from a career-threatening toe injury. head coach at Cricket Australia’s Centre 150 kilometers per hour mark during win from the reclaiming the Ashes and While Lillee has been a key element in of Excellence in Brisbane, has been con- this series, and could go even faster in DHAKA: Bangladesh’s cricket chief has that,” said Hassan, who is a ruling party evoked the bygone era of lethal quicks Johnson’s development, it’s been a centrating on his run-up. “He’s running Perth with the prevailing ‘Fremantle said that next year’s World Cup lawmaker. Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson 40 years group effort getting Johnson to fulfil his in nice and hard now, and he’s relaxed. Doctor’ breeze coming in over his shoul- is threatened by the country’s deadly Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the BCB’s ago. A popular saying during the 1974- undoubted potential. Adam Griffith, his It’s his game sense now, and he’s got der.”When I sit back and look at it, I felt political violence, and there may only be chief executive, told reporters that the 75 series was, “Ashes to Ashes, dust to bowling coach at Western Australia, has himself very fit again. He’s taking good like my run-up rhythm was the best it’s weeks to save the tournament. The 16- ICC had asked the board to relay them dust, if Thomson doesn’t get ya, Lillee been working on getting him to run in responsibility for himself, and that’s why ever been. I’ve lengthened my run-up team competition, due to take place an update on the situation. “We will must”, such was their destructive impact straighter, staying tall at the crease and he’s bowling so well,” Cooley said. since coming back from my toe injury,” between March 16 and April 6, should be send (it to) them accordingly,” he said. on Mike Denness’s visiting England side. remaining high in his follow-through. “This is him. When he’s fit and strong Johnson said. the biggest sporting event ever staged An ICC spokesman said on Monday that Roll on to the current series and Terry Alderman, who took 41 English he bowls beautifully.” Johnson could be “That’s made a big difference. I just by Bangladesh. But the country has been it was “actively monitoring” the situa- Johnson, the left-armer with Lillee’s wickets in the 1989 Ashes, gave advice the fastest bowler in world cricket at the feel like I’m getting better momentum gripped by violent protests in recent tion in Bangladesh, stressing that it 1970s-style moustache, is enjoying a through the crease and being able to hit weeks, with opposition supporters insist- gave the highest priority to the safety of similar role with 17 wickets at 12.70 in those speeds without applying myself or ing that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina all participants in ICC events. FICA, the back-to-back man-of-the-match per- forcing it. It feels pretty good.” Australia stand aside before elections due next umbrella body for players’ associations formances. Johnson snatched nine wick- captain Michael Clarke has also been month. More than 74 people have been from around the cricketing world, said it ets as England crashed to a 381-run using Johnson in shorter spells, which defeat in the first Test in Brisbane, and in has allowed him to bowl at a higher killed since late October. was seeking advice from its independ- the second Test in Adelaide, he produced intensity. “He has always been an X-fac- “If this situation prevails, then any big ent security adviser on the threat level. one of the great Ashes spells. tor, with bat and ball. He’s as good an tournament or participation of any big “We will continue to monitor the Johnson ripped the heart out of the athlete in the field as you’ll see,” Clarke country will be under threat,” Bangladesh threat levels between now and the start England first innings with a spell of six said. Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul of the tournament and will keep players wickets for 16 off 26 balls, on the way to “Mitch has always had that. It’s just Hassan told reporters late Monday. “This informed as to the situation,” said FICA taking seven for 40 and a 218-run victory about working out how to use him best must end in January and preferably in executive chairman Paul Marsh. “As is for Australia. With England now 2-0 in your team.” Another remedial factor December.” The political violence has always the case with security issues, we down in the five-Test series, Johnson has are changes in Johnson’s personal life. affected almost every city, including the will ensure that the safety of our players largely precipitated England’s demise as Shy off the pitch, his struggles away three host venues for the T20 tourna- is paramount in our decision-making. they scramble to stay alive this week in from cricket were well known. Two years ment-the capital Dhaka, Chittagong and There is, however more than three Perth. It has been some turnaround for ago a public feud with his mother ended Sylhet. A team of International Cricket months until the event starts and as Johnson, 32, who is now Australia’s 10th with her being excluded from his wed- Council (ICC) inspectors declared last such we do not need to be making any all-time Test wicket-taker with 222 and ding to Jessica Bratich, a former karate week they were “happy” with security decisions at this time.” A spokesman for the promise of more to come in the athlete. Now, bridges rebuilt, he has a arrangements but said they would con- Cricket Australia said the board would remaining three Tests. wife who understands the pressures of tinue to monitor the situation. seek its own government’s advice on On England’s last tour to Australia, elite sport and a young daughter, However, the dangers posed to the security situation, but no decision Johnson was left out of the second Rubika, who provides the perfect teams was underlined at the weekend on whether to go to Bangladesh would Adelaide Test after spraying the ball escape. when a small bomb exploded outside be made until much nearer the time. around the Gabba in a wayward display Thomson, whose bowling style the West Indies’ Under-19 team’s hotel Australia and the West Indies both that drew taunts from England’s Barmy Johnson’s most resembles, likes what in the port city of Chittagong, prompt- refused to play in Sri Lanka during the Army fans. Johnson admits the goading he is seeing from the dynamic pace- ing them to cut short their tour. 1996 50-over World Cup after a bomb dented his confidence, but now the man in this Ashes series. “It really was Bangladesh is also due to host a tour by went off in Colombo, killing 91 people, wheel has turned and he is putting the shades of 74,” Thomson said after Sri Lanka in January before then staging shortly before the tournament began. frighteners on England with his hostile, Adelaide. “I was really pleased for him. the Asia Cup, a 50-over tournament New Zealand refused to play in Kenya short-pitched bowling. Lillee, who once He was superb. The Poms (England) are starting in February which also features during the 2003 World Cup, a few described Johnson, then a raw 17-year- used to playing on flat decks but they India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. “The months after a deadly bomb attack in old from Townsville, as a “once-in-a-gen- are not used to having to play backfoot quicker this political situation improves Mombasa. Pakistan has not hosted any eration bowler,” works closely with his cricket and he exposed that. “He made the better because the Sri Lanka tour is international matches since militants protege. BRISBANE: In this file picture Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson the rest of the bowlers look like medi- in January and then we have the Asia attacked the Sri Lankan team during a In one example, Lillee has encour- celebrates the wicket of England’s Steve Smith during day two of the um-pacers. It’s great to see a bit of feel- Cup. It needs to be resolved before Test in Lahore in 2009. —AFP aged Johnson on long jogs to build the first Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at the ing back in the game. It was old-fash- fitness needed for the lengthier run-up Gabba Cricket Ground in Brisbane. —AFP ioned cricket.” —AFP